International health IT week in review: May 17

Pulse+IT's weekly round-up of international health IT news for the week ending May 17: Kerala's corona slayer, Wales data hub, NHS tracing apps, AI for viewing scans remotely, FHIR-based data activation platform, EMRs for COVID research, FHIR in Russia, Google Nest for ward rounds, WHO app for underserved countries, swapping EMRs causes patient dissatisfaction
The coronavirus slayer! How Kerala's rock star health minister helped save it from Covid-19
The Guardian ~ Laura Spinney ~ 14/05/2020
KK Shailaja has been hailed as the reason a state of 35 million people has only lost four to the virus. Here’s how the former teacher did it
NHS Wales launches data hub to manage Covid-19 demand
Digital Health News ~ Andrea Downey ~ 14/05/2020
It includes GP appointments; emergency department capacity; calls to NHS 111; statistics for positive tests; the number and location of beds; and beds with ventilators.
NHSX ‘working on second tracing app using Apple and Google tech’
Digital Health News ~ Andrea Downey ~ 13/05/2020
The app is being developed “in parallel” with the currently available version using Apple and Google’s technology in case politicians force a switch, the Financial Times reported.
NHS trust fast-tracks AI tool which allows doctors to view scans remotely
Digital Health News ~ Hannah Crouch ~ 14/05/2020
The AI tool allows hospital staff to share scans quickly with on call stroke physicians so they can advise the teams on the best course of treatment, without a delay that could affect the patient’s outcomes.
Amazon-backed Haven launches CEO search as Gawande steps down
FierceHealthcare ~ Heather Landi ~ 14/05/2020
Atul Gawande confirmed he is stepping down as CEO of Haven, the healthcare company formed by Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Berkshire Hathaway.
Innovaccer debuts FHIR-enabled data activation platform
Healthcare IT News ~ Bill Siwicki ~ 13/05/2020
The product is designed to address new ONC and CMS rules to implement interoperability and patient-access provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act. The rules promote HL7’s FHIR.
Study: Symptom checker app data reinforces link between COVID-19, loss of smell, taste
MobiHealthNews ~ Dave Muoio ~ 12/05/2020
U.K. and U.S. residents who reported a loss of smell and taste into a COVID-19 symptom-tracker app more often tested positive for the infection, according to a study published yesterday in Nature.
Researchers analyse 17.4 million NHS patient EHRs in the world’s largest study to date on COVID-19 deaths
Healthcare IT News ~ Tammy Lovell ~ 12/05/2020
There were 5,683 deaths attributed to the virus in the time period, with death strongly associated with being male, older age, deprivation, uncontrolled diabetes, severe asthma, and various other prior medical conditions.
St. Petersburg's journey towards an integrated EHR system
MobiHealthNews ~ Laura Lovett ~ 12/05/2020
Kogan’s team looked into a number of options before choosing HL7 FHIR.
Mount Sinai using Google Nest to monitor patients, reducing in-person contact
Healthcare IT News ~ Kat Jercich ~ 11/05/2020
Hospital medical staff can stream live footage from inpatient units to nursing stations and initiate patient communication without having to physically enter rooms.
WHO readies coronavirus app for checking symptoms, possibly contact tracing
Reuters ~ Paresh Dave ~ 09/05/2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to launch an app this month to enable people in under-resourced countries to assess whether they may have the novel coronavirus, and is considering a Bluetooth-based contact tracing feature too.
Switching EHRs can lead to big drops in patient satisfaction
Healthcare IT News ~ Kat Jercich ~ 08/05/2020
Mayo Clinic researchers found that patients were particularly dissatisfied with access, including their ease in getting clinics on the phone and scheduling appointments.
Posted in Australian eHealth